How to get to and around the Goto Islands: Access, Transportation and Orientation

How to get to the Goto Islands

Located about 100 kilometers off the mainland, the Goto Islands can be reached by ferry from Nagasaki and Sasebo, or by flights from Nagasaki and Fukuoka:

By ferry

There are multiple high-speed boat and car ferry lines from Nagasaki and Sasebo to the Goto Islands. Below is a list of the most relevant ones:

Nagasaki - Fukue - Narao - Nagasaki
3-7 high-speed boats and car ferries per day
Nagasaki - Arikawa
2-3 high-speed boats per day
Nagasaki - Tainoura
2 high-speed boats per day
Sasebo - Arikawa
4 high-speed boats and car ferries per day

Note that ferry crossings may be cancelled in bad weather, with high-speed boats more prone to cancellation due to high waves than the car ferries.

By air

Oriental Air Bridge operates 2-3 flights per day each from Nagasaki and Fukuoka to Fukue Airport. The journey takes around 40 minutes and cost around 8,000 to 19,000 yen one way.

Alighting the small plane after arriving at Fukue Airport

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

Getting around

How to travel between the islands

Among the five main islands, Nakadori and Wakamatsu are the only ones connected by bridge. There is a dense network of ferry routes connecting various ports on the different islands with each other, including a route that connects Fukue Island (Fukue Port) with Nakadori Island (Narao Port) multiple times per day (30 minutes, around 2400 yen by high-speed boat or 80 minutes, around 800 yen by car ferry).

Other islands like Naru (Naru Port) and Hisaka (Tanoura Port) are connected less frequently (note that only the main routes are shown on the map above). Tickets for ferries can usually be bought the day of travel unless traveling with a car in which case it is recommended to book in advance.